How-To: Install Ubuntu and Linux Apps on Your PlayStation 3

If you're only using your $500 PlayStation 3 for console gaming, you're missing out on half of its hidden versatility: the ability to upgrade into a fully functional PC! Inside that shiny plastic shell resides some decent computing silicon, just waiting to be released from its undeserved console shackles. And while Windows Vista and OSX are no-goes due to legal issues, there's no reason at all not to dual boot into a perfectly serviceable Linux platform when the need arises.

The installation process is fairly straightforward, and the hard drive is easily upgradeable if you don't mind spending a little extra cash on the side. And while Ubuntu for PlayStation has a few functional limitations, you can find myriad excellent applications for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own living room, including VLC for encoded video playback, Amarok to blast your digital music library, and some classic SNES emulation software that you can play using your PS3's Sixaxis or Dualshock controller. This guide will show you how to do all of the above, so let's get started!

What you need:

• A PlayStation 3• A PC with a CD/DVD burner and burning software• Kboot and Ubuntu 8.10 .ISO image (Bundled)• A USB keyboard and mouse, or a wireless keyboard and mouse• An external USB hard drive or USB thumb drive for data backup• A router with an active Internet connection

Optional

• A 120GB or greater 2.5” 5,200rpm SATA notebook hard drive• A small Philips Head screwdriver and a small Flat Head screwdriver• A wireless router• A CATVe Ethernet Cable (for ease of overall installation during setup)

Time: 4.5 hours

Step 1: Download and Burn the Ubuntu / Kboot Package

Naturally, this entire process starts with locating and burning the Linux distro itself. Log in to your existing home PC and grab the PS3 Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex ISO from Ubuntu.com. After the download has competed, burn the ISO image to a blank disk. (If you don't have a standard program to do this, numerous free options exist, such as IMGBurn or Infra Recorder.

Once the ISO disc has been created, set it aside, and move on to the next step. If you have trouble with a failed Ubuntu install later in the process (usually a result of one or more corrupted files), consider slowing the burn speeds of your ISO to 32x or 24x. We’re shooting for reliability here, not speed.

Step 2: Backup System-Critical Files

Save that PS3 data! Even if you don't plan on upgrading your PS3's HDD, you'll still have to reformat and repartition the existing drive, and all game saves and stored content such as music will be deleted. Don't worry about your PS3 account info and profile data though: that's all bundled on a separate flash drive along with the PS3's native operating system, called XMB. Also, games purchased from the PS Store online may be downloaded again for free.

To save your current data, do the following: start your PS3 without a game or movie disc to boot into XMB. From here, navigate to 'Settings' → 'System Settings'→'Backup Utility.'

Select the actual device you plan on storing the data on (such as a flash disk or external hard drive), and let the console run through the backup process.

Step 3: Install a New Hard Drive (Optional)

NOTE: the PS3 will only accept 2.5” SATA 5200rpm hard drives, not IDE or 7200rpm.

An 'upgrade' to 80GB of storage might sound elite to the console crowd, but we as PC enthusiasts know better. A true HDD upgrade is one that puts hair on your chest, like a 320GB model. Even better: swapping the PS3's hard disc is easy. Here's how to make the change: unplug the power cable and any HDMI / accessory cables from the PS3. Locate and remove the plastic cover on the bottom / side of the console (a small flat head screw driver works well to pop the cover off).

Remove the HDD retainer cage by taking out the middle screw and gently pulling on the clasp. Remove the four mounting screws from the sides of the cage and take out the old drive from the holster.

Seat the new drive back inside the holster and refasten the 4 mounting screws. Slide in the entire unit back into the PS3 until the whole assembly locks firmly into place (but don't be a gorilla and over-do it; a minor push should suffice). Tighten the last screw back down and lock the black cover back over the opening. And you're done. The PS3 will now automatically format the new drive when powered on and boot back into XMB when completed.

Step 4: Prepare and Install Ubuntu

Now it's time to get Ubuntu up and running (even if your PS3 has just formatted your new HDD, you must still follow this step). First off, the default PS3 Wi-Fi Internet connection has been known to cause errors with the Ubuntu installation program. To avoid any road bumps, it's best to plug in a standard Ethernet cable from your personal router directly into your PS3 console.

Find your way back to the root of XMB and navigate to the following: 'Settings'→'System Settings'→'Format Utility'

Select 'Format Utility.' Enter 'Yes' when prompted. From the partition menu, select 'Custom.' Now select 'Allot 10GB to Other OS.'

Highlight and enable 'Quick Format.' Make sure not to power off the PS3 while the format occurs. After the process is finished, press the X button to restart the system.

Now that we have 10GB alloted for the Ubuntu portion, it's time to insert the burned ISO disc. Go ahead and plug in your keyboard and mouse into the console at this point. After doing so, navigate to 'Settings' → 'System Settings' → 'Install Other OS.'

1) To the people freaking out about their password "not typing," it actually is. Security at the bootloader, shell, or terminal won't even display stars when you're typing the password. It is being entered, though, trust me.

2) For those of you using the installer from this article, the version of Ubuntu being installed is a server edition, meaning the GUI is not automatically installed. To install it (after the disk install is complete), log in with your username and password at the terminal prompt. You'll see a prompt that looks like:

username@hostname:~$ _

At this prompt, type the following:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

Enter your password when prompted, agree to the download and install (it takes about 2 gigs of space), and let it do its thing for a few hours. When it is complete, type the following command to restart the PS3:

sudo shutdown -r 0

When the PS3 restarts, hit Enter when kboot prompts you to do so, then it should boot into the GUI on its own. If not, type the following at the prompt:

startx

3) The first thing you'll want to do when you boot into the desktop is update Ubuntu. Install all 70-some updates but DO NOT install version 9.04! It will NOT work with the PS3 and WILL ruin your installation.

4) Make sure to shut down Ubuntu properly from either the desktop or the terminal (with sudo shutdown -h 0). If not, the next time you boot you will likely get an error in kboot saying the rootfs cannot be found. If this happens, shutdown the PS3, cut power, reapply power, and start it back up and it should be ok.

I have followed all the instructions but when the OS tells you to take out the cd then there is the black part from the begining and it will ask you the host ubuntu username and password and when you write the username but when it asks you the password you try to write and it dosen't write!!

In case you missed it: to boot back into XMB, shut down the PS3 from within Ubuntu. Once the console has powered off completely, hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you hear a second beep. Release the power button and you'll be forwarded to the PS3's primary OS.

Conversely, to load up Ubuntu, just follow the prior instructions on changing the PS3 default OS, and then hit 'Enter' after the text screen loads.

Touting the PS3 as a fully functional PC is a bit of a stretch. Installing Ubuntu is easy enough, but getting it to a "usable" state is difficult and may be impossible for those who don't have much Linux experience. Also, the PS3 doesn't have enough ram to support any type of functional speed compared to even an older PC you could buy online for $150-$200. If you want an Ubuntu box, skip the PS3 and buy or build yourself something cheap with at least a gig of ram. It would work much better.

I tries this last month and despite hours of work, wireless refused to work whatsoever. The box was greyed out for it. I dont even have encyrption. It worked on Yellow Dog but that distro is crap. I just gave up.

I installed Ubuntu 8.10 on my PS3 a few months back and I want everyone to know it's not worth the effort. Here's why:

-Because the PS3 requires the PPC distro of Ubuntu, many popular apps and tools aren't available - at least not in a recent version. You'll have to add sources to even find a lot of them.

-The MaxPC article doesn't bother to mention that Ubuntu on the PS3 runs like garbage. They also don't mention that you can optimize Ubuntu to some extent (i.e. stop certain services from loading), but even with these tweaks it'll still run like crap.

-Good luck getting a Flash player to work - that means no Youtube, Hulu.com, etc. It's because Adobe doesn't make a Flash player for PPC based systems and the alternatives are weak at best. After hours of toil I got one to work but it's slow and buggy.

Honstely, I was really disappointed with Ubuntu on PS3. It's so slow and limited that I can't really see the point. I think every "how to run Linux on PS3" article should have a big fat disclaimer on the top that says "Prepare to spend a day or two setting it up, and it'll still run like crap".

Thanks for the article - I've been trying to decide if i *need* a PS3 and the fact that getting it to run Linux is so easy is helping to seal the deal.

Once small error (I think?), you said "Gnome goes for a cleaner look and a more sparse desktop approach,
catered more for the typical user. XFCE shoots more for the higher-end
minutia detail-driven crowd" but I think that's flipped.

In my experience at least XFCE is the super clean, super sparse desktop and Gnome the one with more eye candy.

Yes, you can still play games on your PS3 after installing Ubuntu like normal. But remember to back up your saved games first. This process does NOT delete XMB, it simply dual-boots between the PS3's native OS and the new Ubuntu partition.

Actually, a 7200rpm drive will work in the PS3. I've got a Seagate 160GB 7200RPM SATAII drive installed in my PS3 and it runs like a charm. There has been a bit of a decrease in load times, save times, access times. There is a little more warmth, but meh.

Not to say that booting Windows 7 on a PS3 wouldn't be bad ass, 'cause it would be, unfortunately the PS3 uses a PowerPC proc and as of right now, I'm pretty sure there is not a PowerPC compiled version of Windows 7 in the wild. Yet...(Muhahahahahaha...ha...ha...h..a).

XBOX360, No idea. It must be possible. Um, yes Google? I'll be right there...

it is possible but it requires more hacking to get it done, since this was a designed feature for the PS3 its a shame though that its still only limited to 10gb I thought they would have patched it to allow more room by now